Computer does not recognize hard drive.

wirebug · 01-30-2009, 07:36 PM

Over a week ago, my computer shut down like it was going into standby. When I tried to get the computer up again, the Dell logo loaded, then the Microsoft sign and then to the black screen that directs you to go into Safe mode, Safe networking, Safe command prompt, Last know good configuration and normal startup. Each time I did so, it continuously went back to the same screen and Xp would not load. I had one person tell me he thought my hard drive was failing. I got another hard drive, installed it, tried to install Windows XP and I got a message that the computer did not recognize a hard drive. I'm thinking that maybe my hard drive wasn't failing afterall. I was thinking it could be a BIOS issue or motherboard period. If it is BIOS, I'm not sure where to begin. Does anyone have any advice? Oh and I did check my jumper and made sure the cables were hooked up properly and everything was connected tightly.

**raptor_pa** · 01-30-2009, 07:44 PM

Is the new HD showing up in Bios? You could also try a repair install on the original drive, I've seen that repeated restart issue fixed with a repair ( not repair from recovery console, but after setup says it found another copy of windows it will give ou an option to repair that install )

wirebug · 01-31-2009, 06:09 AM

The smaller drive that I got is a used one that was wiped out and reformatted. As for the other hard drive that was in it when the issues started, I did do a repair and I was told to try to do a chdsk and it said that there were unreasonable errors found that could not be repaired. I was advised by another person in a different forum to get another hard drive because that drive was failing. I did so and this hard drive is not being recognized.

wirebug · 01-31-2009, 09:39 AM

I forgot to mention that the hard drive is listed in the BIOS. I did some research in my school book. My computer would momentarily freeze at points and then would boot then shutdown, which is why I came to this forum in the first place.These are all issues that can happen when either a processor or motherboard fail. So I am leaning more, unfortunately, towards a motherboard.

**raptor_pa** · 01-31-2009, 01:09 PM

First step is to download the bootable versions of the HD manufacturer's test utilities and verify the drives. Then either use that util or kill disk or dban to zero wipe them. Remove anything not needed hardware wise to oot - network card, sound cards etc.... basically everything but RAM, HD and Video card. See if the install works, if so start adding hardware back till it fails. It could be MoBo, could be RAM, could be a bad driver for one of the add on components.

01-30-2009, 07:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
wirebug Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East U.S. Posts: 12 OS: Windows XP home edition SP2	Computer does not recognize hard drive. Over a week ago, my computer shut down like it was going into standby. When I tried to get the computer up again, the Dell logo loaded, then the Microsoft sign and then to the black screen that directs you to go into Safe mode, Safe networking, Safe command prompt, Last know good configuration and normal startup. Each time I did so, it continuously went back to the same screen and Xp would not load. I had one person tell me he thought my hard drive was failing. I got another hard drive, installed it, tried to install Windows XP and I got a message that the computer did not recognize a hard drive. I'm thinking that maybe my hard drive wasn't failing afterall. I was thinking it could be a BIOS issue or motherboard period. If it is BIOS, I'm not sure where to begin. Does anyone have any advice? Oh and I did check my jumper and made sure the cables were hooked up properly and everything was connected tightly. Last edited by wirebug; 01-30-2009 at 07:38 PM.

01-30-2009, 07:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 8,530 OS: XP	Re: Computer does not recognize hard drive. Is the new HD showing up in Bios? You could also try a repair install on the original drive, I've seen that repeated restart issue fixed with a repair ( not repair from recovery console, but after setup says it found another copy of windows it will give ou an option to repair that install ) __________________

01-31-2009, 06:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
wirebug Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East U.S. Posts: 12 OS: Windows XP home edition SP2	Re: Computer does not recognize hard drive. The smaller drive that I got is a used one that was wiped out and reformatted. As for the other hard drive that was in it when the issues started, I did do a repair and I was told to try to do a chdsk and it said that there were unreasonable errors found that could not be repaired. I was advised by another person in a different forum to get another hard drive because that drive was failing. I did so and this hard drive is not being recognized.

01-31-2009, 09:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
wirebug Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East U.S. Posts: 12 OS: Windows XP home edition SP2	Re: Computer does not recognize hard drive. I forgot to mention that the hard drive is listed in the BIOS. I did some research in my school book. My computer would momentarily freeze at points and then would boot then shutdown, which is why I came to this forum in the first place.These are all issues that can happen when either a processor or motherboard fail. So I am leaning more, unfortunately, towards a motherboard.

01-31-2009, 01:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 8,530 OS: XP	Re: Computer does not recognize hard drive. First step is to download the bootable versions of the HD manufacturer's test utilities and verify the drives. Then either use that util or kill disk or dban to zero wipe them. Remove anything not needed hardware wise to oot - network card, sound cards etc.... basically everything but RAM, HD and Video card. See if the install works, if so start adding hardware back till it fails. It could be MoBo, could be RAM, could be a bad driver for one of the add on components. __________________